Children of Medellín / Fundación Caminos

What Children of Medellín / Fundación Caminos does

Children of Medellín began in July 2006, when Dutch volunteer Eddy Veldhuisen started playing soccer with street children in Medellín. A Dutch foundation was registered in January 2008, and a Colombian counterpart, Fundación Caminos, followed in 2009. Today it works with more than 450 children and their families from the hillside neighborhoods of Carambolas and Bello Oriente (Comuna 3, Manrique) and from the city center.

Its model pairs sport and play with schooling. Children join soccer, dance, music and games alongside classes in English, reading and writing, computing and journalism. They also get personal guidance and psychological support, based at the foundation's El Paraíso site in Bello Oriente. A 'Study and Work' track helps older youth go on to further education: 17 young people were studying through the foundation in 2025. A Support a Child program delivers food packages to 60 families every two months. The Colombian team is about 25 people, nearly all Colombian, with two Dutch staff acting as liaisons between the two foundations.

Its 2024–2030 policy plan says funding comes mainly from individual donors, child and team sponsorships, and product sales. The plan's goal is 50 students completing vocational training each year by 2030. US donors should note that it has no US 501(c)(3) partner, so gifts are not tax-deductible in the US.

Key facts

• Works with over 450 children and their families (About page); its 2024–2030 policy plan says over 500 children take part in its projects
• 17 young people were studying through the foundation in 2025 (About page)
• Its Support a Child program delivers food packages to 60 families every two months (Policy plan 2024–2030)
• Colombian team of about 25 staff, 23 of them Colombian (About page)

Before you give

• Not US tax-deductible: its site and donate page mention no US 501(c)(3) partner or fiscal sponsor. US donors can still give by card through the euro form, by PayPal (paypal.me/fundacioncaminos), or by international transfer to Fundación Caminos.
• Dutch donors: the policy plan states the Stichting has ANBI status, which makes gifts tax-deductible in the Netherlands.
• Offers child and team sponsorships as well as one-off gifts (Policy plan 2024–2030).